President's Message

Days are now getting longer and a new summer of Mazinaw adventures awaits. This letter will provide a brief update about ongoing activities of the MPOA and plans for the coming summer. More details will follow in the spring newsletter that will be circulated in advance of our Annual General meeting (AGM). Updated material on a variety of relevant topics can be found on our website (www.lakemazinaw.ca ).

Member Communications: This past year we have kept members informed through both our website and Facebook page. A special thanks to Jamie and Amy Fraser and Suzanne Sills who have managed these resources. A board meeting was held in January to develop a formal communication plan for the MPOA. In addition to email blasts and Facebook posts on urgent matters the board plans to send several email updates throughout the year. A detailed review of activities completed and planned will be brought to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) each spring. Traditionally this AGM has been a face-to-face meeting in Cloyne at the start of the summer. Because of Covid our AGM this year will again be by a Zoom conference on May 14, 2022. This is earlier than our usual face-to-face meeting because members are more likely to have reliable Wi-Fi access at their homes.

MPOA Brochures: Brochures were distributed last summer to inform non-members about the activities and benefits of joining MPOA. These will be available this summer at Smart’s Marina and Brown’s Campground for interested folks.

Algonquin Land Claim: There is nothing further to report about the Algonquin Land Claim beyond what is recorded on our web page.

Mazinaw-Lanark 10-year Forestry Plan: The forestry plans for the next decade have now been finalized. With respect to our area there will be considerable logging around Skootamata Lake and around Little Shabomeka Lake. Lake Mazinaw, because of the provincial park, seems to have been protected with no logging bordering our lake.

Membership: This past summer saw a significant effort expended by board members who contacted property owners to advise them on the benefits of joining our association. A new record high of 325 properties is now represented by your organization.

Lake Directory: The information from individual property owners has been collated by our Membership Director, Ian Philips, and combined with preliminary information on non-member properties to develop a detailed lake directory. This lake directory, which will be available to all property owners who pay their 2022 MPOA dues of $20 this spring, includes contact information for MPOA members, emergency contact information, as well as maps showing locations of all the properties around the lake. We have invited local businesses to place small business card sized ads at the back of our directory to defray printing costs.

Winter Ice Safety: For those lucky cottagers who can enjoy winter activities on the lake, please take a few minutes to read through the appended poster provided by North Frontenac. It is an excellent summary about how to be safe on the ice. (see appended)

Short Term Rentals: These continue to generate concern among many of our members as well as cottagers on other lakes in cottage country. Communities throughout Muskoka, Prince Edward County, and Haliburton have already introduced by-laws to regulate and enforce limits on commercial short-term rentals. This past year has seen different groups make representation to South, Central, and North Frontenac councils regarding the negative impact of unsupervised commercial rental operations on the local cottage communities.  MPOA has worked with the North Frontenac Lake Association Alliance (NFLAA) (speaking on behalf of 18 lake associations) to draw attention to our concerns at North Frontenac and Addington Highlands councils. A committee has been struck by Mayor Higgins with elected representatives from other townships as well as members of NFLAA and MPOA to address these issues. The position taken by NFLAA and MPOA has been that new regulations should not have a negative impact on members who rent their properties for short periods of time to help defray costs. Rather it seems to be largely unsupervised commercial rentals that have generated concerns about continuous and excessive noise, partying, fires, fireworks, and improper waste disposal as well as inadequate septic management. More information about steps taken will appear in the spring newsletter.

Shoreline Shrub/Tree Planting:  The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has once again contacted MPOA to offer low-cost trees and shrubs for planting along the shores of Mazinaw. For a $25 contribution to the MVCA Stewardship program members can obtain 15 plants to plant within 45 meters of the shore on Lake Mazinaw. Additional plants can be purchased at cost. Details will be sent to MPOA members in the coming month and orders must be received by the end of February. Pickup will be at a site accessible by land or water on June 11, 2022. Details to follow.

Invasive Species: LDD (Gypsy moth) caterpillars and moths continue to be annoying pests.  In some areas of the lake many dead caterpillars and many fewer egg masses were observed later last summer. This is how outbreaks usually end and is probably due to the virus or the fungus that can decimate the caterpillar population. How much prevention is required this year is uncertain. The MPOA has been informed that the elastic bands impregnated as lures for LDD traps will no longer be available. We have managed to find a supplier in the US and will order a shipment to be sold at a subsidized cost to any members who need them for commercial or self-made traps.

Board Positions: We have had some excellent volunteers for the MPOA board who are immediate family members of property owners. The board wishes to change our by-laws (that currently require members to be property owners) to extend the opportunity for these people to join the board.  Any proposed changes to our bylaws will be posted in advance and a formal vote at the AGM will be needed for approval.

Several of the board members are completing their term on the board and replacements are urgently needed. Rose Prevoe, Treasurer, Suzanne Sills, Communications Director, Jamie Fraser, NFLAA Rep, and myself, President, will be stepping down after the AGM in May. We have current board members willing to step into the roles of Treasurer, NFLAA Rep, and President. However, we are looking for someone to become our new Communications Director (to deal with our website, our Facebook page and Member Communications). If you or someone you know from the lake would consider this role, please contact Suzanne Sills or me at ‘communications@lakemazinaw.ca’ to get more details.

Marking of Submerged Hazards: Several members have raised questions about whether MPOA should mark submerged water hazards on the lake. Bon Echo Park installed new channel markers at ‘the narrows’ last summer at the request of the board. However, the matter of trying to comprehensively mark hazards throughout the lake is more challenging. This issue was previously reviewed, and the decision was made that the MPOA could not accept the liability for purporting to have marked all rocks and shoals around Mazinaw because hazards may change due to storms, ice movement, and changing water levels. Individual property owners should consider marking obstacles that they discover.

Your input to the board and membership of MPOA: Should you have any issues that you feel MPOA should address please communicate these through communications@lakemazinaw.ca .   

Stay safe and enjoy the winter while it lasts.

Sincerely,

Bob Reid  (president MPOA)

Ice Water Safety Poster 2022